After I gave Uncle Austin the necklace, it felt as though a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. While I believed my intentions to be pure, the thought of losing my wolf for even a few days was terrifying. Uncle Austin provided me with what help he could and for that I was thankful.

I stayed in my bedroom well into the afternoon. The dinner cart pulled me from my thoughts.

I ate my dinner in silence, my mind attempting to focus on many things at once. I found I couldn't tap into my mate at will. It was a give-and-take type of connection. I could only receive the...